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 Saturday, September 10, 2011

  CURRAGH, Race 18, Mdn, 15,000, 2yo, c/g, 1mT, 1:46.14, yl/sf, 10, 16

  Imperial Monarch (Ire), C, 2, by Galileo (Ire)

1st Dam: Ionian Sea (GB) (SW-Fr), by Slip Anchor (GB)

2nd Dam: Snow Day (Fr), by Reliance II (Fr)

3rd Dam: Vindaria, by Roi Dagobert (Fr)

The Great Gatsby (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) took time to find his feet en route to a close second in the 2003 G1 Epsom Derby, so no major excitement was expected of his three-parts brother Imperial Monarch here, and he was sent off at 6-1. Settled behind the early pace by Seamie Heffernan, the blaze-faced bay tracked through the eventual third Handazan (Ire) (Nayef) and was clearly traveling best with three furlongs remaining. Coaxed to the fore from there, the imposing 210,000gns TATOCT yearling was shaken up to seize the lead from Azamata (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) at the furlong pole, and the whip was not needed as he opened up to score by 3 1/2 lengths. "Imperial Monarch has a lovely pedigree and has been working like he was ready to run," his rider said. "Usually some of ours can be a bit green, but he wasn't." In addition to The Great Gatsby, G1SP-Eng & Ity, GSP-Ire, $744,018, Imperial Monarch is a 3/4-brother to Magritte (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1SP-Eng; and Roman Empress (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1SP-Eng & GSP-Ire, $138,790; as well as a half to Ithaca (GB) (Groom Dancer), GSP-Fr. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €10,350.

Click for the race video. 

Click for the pedigree.

O: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith | B: David Magnier & Cobra Bloodstock | T: Aidan O'Brien